Remote fill air line lubricator



Sept. 8, 1970 J. P, MALEC 3,527,323

REMOTE FILL AIR LINE LUBRICATOR Filed April 18, 1968 2L-f" ga /04 ,oz ws@ 72 if ifa Jfm/ Emana United States Patent O 3,527,323 REMOTE FILL AIRLINE LUBRICATOR Jerry P. Malec, 2832 N. 70th Ave., Omaha, Nebr. 68106Filed Apr. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 722,332 Int. Cl. F1611 7/34, 7/02 U.S. Cl.184--55 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A remote iill air linelubricator having an air intake end connected to a source of air underpressure and an air discharge end connected to the machine or apparatusto be lubricated. The lubricator is iluidly connected to an oilreservoir which is remotely spaced from the lubricator, machine andsource of air pressure. The reservoir supplies oil to the lubricatorwhich injects a predetermined amount of oil into the air passagetherethrough to cause the lubrication of the machine. The oil reservoirmay be fluidly connected to a plurality of lubricators if desired. Thelubricator may be oriented in any relative position and may be mountedwithin the machine or apparatus as desired.

Conventional air line lubricators generally indicate a bowl'typelubricant reservoir which is in communication with the air line andwhich is usually mounted closely adjacent the machine to be lubricated.The conventional lubricators are extremely unsatisfactory due to thefact that: (l) The machines are not properly lubricated; (2) Thelubricators are difficult to install; (3) The air lines must be shutdown and the machine stopped when the reservoirs are filled; (4) Thelubricant is easily contaminated since the lubricator is adjacent theoperating machine; (5) The lubricators must be disassembled to rell thereservoir; (6) The lubricators are bulky; (7) The lubricators must bedrained of the water or condensate formed therein; and (8) Thelubricators must be constantly observed and serviced.

Applicant has patented lubricators which are extremely light weight andwhich introduce oil directly into the airstream thereby automaticallylubricating the moving parts of the machine without causing a seriousair pressure drop at the point of use. Applicants lubricators haveeleminated the back pressure problem usually associated with lubricatorsand has providers which have proven to be generally satisfactory.Applicants lubricators are described in U.S. Letters Pat. Nos.3,115,949.

Applicants lubricators have a small lubricant reservoir provided in theinterior thereof which must be refilled through a removable cap. Thus,applicants lubricators must be periodically checked and refilled whenthe machine with which it is associated requires a large amount oflubrication.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide aremote iill air line lubricator.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable automaticlubricator for air lines.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote till air linelubricator including an oil reservoir which is remotely spaced from thelubricator.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote ll air linelubricator which may be mounted in the interior of buttoned up or sealedmachines.

A further object of this invention is to provide an air line lubricatorincluding an oil reservoir remotely spaced therefrom which may beiluidly connected to a plurality of such lubricators.

A further object of this invention is to provide a re Patented Sept. 8,1970 ice mote till air line lubricator which permits the reservoir to bemounted in any clean convenient area.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote till air linelubricator which insures that the machine will be properly lubricated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote till air linelubricator wherein the lubricator may be installed in any relativeposition.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator which requires a minimum of maintenance.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator wherein the reservoir may be refilled while the air line isworking and the machine running.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator which occupies a minimum amount of space.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator which prevents contamination of the lubricant.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator which does not need to be disassembled to refill thereservoir.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote ll air linelubricator which injects lubricant at a controlled rate into an attachedappliance or machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote till air linelubricator including means to prevent the syphoning or draining of theiluid in the reservoir through the injector mechanism and into thecompressed air or uid line.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator wherein the lubricant being injected into the air line ispressure equalized with the compressed air.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator having means provided therein `which prevents the release oflubricant into the air line when the air line is de-pressurized.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote fill air linelubricator which performs satisfactorily regardless of the value of thepressure in the system.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote ll air linelubricator which is economical of manufacture, durable in use andrefined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a typical lubricator installation;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the device with portions thereofcut away to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view as seen along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating another typical lubricatorinstallation.

In FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally designates a source of compressedair having at least one air line 12 extending therefrom. FIG. l alsoillustrates air lines 14 and 16 extending therefrom which are merelyprovided to illustrate the various installations of the system. Thenumeral 18 generally designates an injector |which is positivelyconnected to line 12 while the numerals 18 and 18" refer to injectorswhich are identical to injector 18. An

air line 20 connects injector 18 with a machine 22 which may be anymachine requiring lubrication such as pneumatic tools, hydraulicallyoperated transfer machines, power packages or any other machinesrequiring lubrication. The numerals 22' and 22 also designate themachines to ibe lubricated. Machine 22' is connected to injector 18 by aconduit 20 While machine 22" is connected to injector 18" by a conduit20.

The numeral 24 designates an oil reservoir having a plurality of pipesor tubes 26, 26 and 26" extending therefrom which are preferablyconstructed of llexible plastic tubing or the like. Stopcocks 28, 28'and 28" are mounted in the pipes 26, 26 and 26 respectively and may beoperated to control the llow of fluid therethrough as desired. As seenin FIG. 1, pipes 26, 26 and 26" are connected to injectors 18, 18 and 18respectively. FIG. 1 illustrates a single reservoir 24 supplying fluidor lubricant to three injectors but it should be understood that thenumber of injectors may vary from one to for example. FIG. 1 illustratesinjectors 18 and 18 being spaced from the machines 22 and 22respectively which is perhaps the normal installation. However, FIG. 1also illustrates injector 18" being installed in a buttoned up or sealedmachine which is sometimes desirable.

In FIG. 4, a slightly different installation from that of FIG. 1 isillustrated wherein the numeral 30 designates an air compressor or thelike operatively connected to an injector 18A by means of an air line32. Injector 18A is connected to the machine 22A by means of an 'airline 34. Compressor 30 is in communication with reservoir 24A by meansof a conduit or air line 36 extending therebetween having a stopcock 38imposed therein. Reservoir 24A is connected to injector 18A by means ofa pipe or lube 40 having a stopcock 42 imposed therein. The installationillustrated in schematic form in FIG. 4 is essentially the same as thatwhich is illustrated in FIG. 1 except that the reservoir is pressurizedby means of it being directly connected to the source of air pressure bythe conduit 36.

Injector 18 Kwhich is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is very similar tothe oiler illustrated in applicants Pat. No. 3,115,949 with certainchanges to permit its use in the system of this invention. Injector 18includes a case 44 rwhich is seen to be hexagonal in FIG. 2 and Iwhichhas a hollow interior. The forward end 46 of case 44 has a male swivel48 rotatably mounted therein and having a seal 50 positionedtherebetween. Swivel 48 includes a threaded exteror portion 52 which isoperatively connected to the conduit 20. Swivel 52 has a bore S4extending therethrough as best illustrated in FIG. 3. An air inlet cap56 is threadedly secured to the inlet end 58 of case 44 and a seal 60 isprovided therebetween. As seen in .FIG. 3, cap 56 is provided with aninternally threaded bore 62 which would threadedly receive conduit 12 orthe like. A metering assembly 64 is mounted in the interior of case 44and is positioned between the rearward end of cap 56 and the forward endof swivel 48 as illustrated in FIG. 3. A seal 66 is positioned 'betweencap 56 and the forward end of metering 'assembly 64 |while a seal 68 ispositioned between the forward end of metering assembly 64 and therearward end of swivel 48 as indicated in IFIG. 3. Metering assembly 64is comprised of a generally cylindrical shaped housing 70 having aninternal compartment area 72 formed forwardlyof a spoke Support portion74. The numeral 76 generally designates a central tubular stem conduitextending rearwardly from the spoked web support portion 74 and isprovided with a central bore 78 formed therein, the rearward end ofwhich is threadedly closed by a screw 80. The numeral 82 generallydesignates a stem conduit which extends forwardly from the spoke -websupport portion 74 and which has a bore 84 extending therethrough whichslida'bly receives a metering screw 86 therein. Metering screw 86includes a head portion 88 having an-O-ring 90 mounted at the forwardend thereof which engages a shoulder 9 2 formed in bore 84. For purposesof description, that portion of the bore 84 which is forwardly ofshoulder 92 will be generally designated by the reference numeral 94.

A baille 96 is threadedly mounted on the forward end of metering screw86 and is adapted to move into sealing engagement with a venturi 98provided at the forward end of metering assembly 64. A spring means 100embraces stem portion 82 and engages the rearward end of baille 96 toyieldably resist the rearward movement of the lbale 96 with respect tothe venturi 98. An oil passag'eway 102 is formed in the lower portion ofthe support portion 74 and has a filter or screen means 104 mounted inthe outer end thereof to filter the oil passing therethrough. The innerend of the passageway 102 is in the form of a valve seat and has a ballvalve 106 mounted therein. A passageway 108 is provided in the upperportion of the spoked web support portion 74 and is adapted tothreadedly receive oil adjusting screw 110- extending therethrough, theinner end of which is adapted to limit the movement of the ball valve106 away from the valve seat portion. An O-ring 112 is mounted on thescrew 110 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The screw 110' rotatably extendsthrough a cap 114 which threadedly closes an opening 116 formed in case44. A seal 118 is positioned between cap 114 and case 44 as illustratedin FIG. 3. Screw 110 has an O-ring seal 120 mounted thereon whichengages cap 114 to seal the interior of the unit from the atmosphere. Asseen in FIG. 3, the outer end of the screw 110 is provided with a notch122 to facilitate the rotation thereof to adjust the relationship of theinner end of the screw 110 with respect to ball valve 106. Case 44 isprovided lwith a pair of openings 124 and 126 which extend therethrough.Either of the openings may be closed by a suitable plug 128 while theother opening 126 is operatively placed in communication with the tube26. The forward exterior portion of the cylindrical shaped housing 70 isprovided with a pair of spaced apart annular flanges 130 and 132 havingan O-ring 134 positioned therebetween. At least one port 136 extendsthrough the housing 70 beneath the O-ring 134. The port 136 and theO-ring 134 comprise an air pressure equalizing valve. For purposes ofdescription, the numeral 138 generally designates the compartment areain case 44 between the interior of case 44 and the exterior of housing70. O-ring 134 normally seals port 136.

As seen in FIG. 2, the reservoir 24 has a fill cap 140 removably mountedthereon to permit the refilling of the reservoir. Reservoir 24 may beconveniently mounted on any supporting surface such as a wall 144 -bymeans of screws 146 and would normally be positioned at a level higherthan the injector 18. If desired, the reservoir 24 can be located quitedistant from the injector 18 and could even be located in a separateroom or the like which could be maintained in a clean condition toprevent the contamination of the lubricant during the filling of thereservoir 24. The reservoir 24 can tbe filled at any time during theoperation of the machine 22 or the injector 18 by simply closingstopcock 28 and lling the reservoir. As soon as the reservoir is filledand the cover replaced, the stopcock 28 would then be reopened to permitthe llow of lubricant from the reservoir 24 to the injector 18 and topermit the iiow of air bubbles from injector 18 to reservoir 24 as willbe explained hereinafter.

In operation, the injector 18 is installed so that the air inlet cap 56is placed in communication with the conduit 12 and so that the swivel 48is placed in communication with the pipe or conduit 20. Injector 18 maybe located in the machine, adjacent the machine or remote from themachine as illustrated in FIG. 1. The lubricant ilows into compartmentarea 138 Iand would normally lill the same. The incoming llow of airimpinges upon the baille 96 and causes the same to be moved rearwardlyagainst the force of the spring means 100. The reanward movement of thebaille 96 causes metering screw 86 to be moved rearwardly therebyunseating the O-ring 90 from the shoulder 92. The air ilows around thebaie 96, through the compartment area 72, past the spoke web supportportion 74, and outwardly through bore 54 and swivel 48 into pipe 20.The air passing between the bafe 96 and the venturi 98 creates a venturieffect which causes a suction to be exerted in the bore 94 which causesthe oil to be drawn from the compartment area 138, through the screen104, into passageway 102, past the ball valve 106, into bore 84 andthrough bore 94, into compartment area 72 Where the oil will be pickedup by the air passing therethrough. The oil adjusting screw 110 mayberotated so as to Vary the permissible movement of the ball valve 106with respect to its valve seat thereby controlling the amount of oilthat will pass from compartment area 138 to bore 84. Likewise, baille 96may tbe threadedly moved with respect to the metering screw 86 to adjustits relationship with respect to the venturi 98 to vary the sensitivityof the device.

As previously stated, the port 136 and the O-ring 134 comprise an airpressure equalizing the valve which equalizes the pressure between thecompartment areas 138 and 72. A small vacuum efect is created in theinterior of reservoir 24 which would tend to impede the ow of lubricanttherefrom if port 136 and O-ring 134 were not provided. A small amountof air passes through port 136 and around O-ring 134 at times andresults in a plurality of small air bubbles being formed in thelubricant in the compartment area 138 which then moves through conduit26 to the interior of reservoir 24 to replacethe fluid being takentherefrom. When the ow of air is stopped, the baille 96 is movedforwardly towards the venturi 98 by the spring means 100 which causesthe O-ring 90 to seal against the shoulder 92 thereby preventing anylubricant from entering the air line while the same is inoperative.Likewise, the O-ring 134 seals the port 136 during those periods thatthe air is not being passed through the injector 18 which also preventslubricant from entering the air stream.

The embodiment seen in FIG. 4 is identical to that illustrated in FIGS.l-3 except that the source 0f air is directly connected to the reservoir24A to pressurize the interior of the reservoir which aids in forcingthe lubricant therein to the injector 18 and which replaces thelubricant being removed therefrom.

Thus it can be seen that a remote iill air line lubricator has beenprovided which is easy to reiill and which may be iilled in an areawherein the lubricant will not Ibecome contaminated. The lubricatorinsures that the machine will receive the proper lubrication withoutbeing constantly checked due to the size of the reservoir 24 which maybe sufciently large to supply as many as 50 lubricators. Water orcondensate will never collect in the system which obviously reduces themaintenance problems usually connected therewith. The reservoir may befilled while the air line is working and the machines are running whicheliminates any down time. It can also be appreciated that the lubricator18 is extremely small and may be mounted in spaces wherein it has beenpreviously impossible to mount the conventional lubricators. Thelubricator of this invention also may be mounted in the interior ofbuttoned up or closed machines since it does not need to be observed oradjusted once the unit has been installed thereinto. Preferably, thetube 26 is of transparent material to permit the observation of thelubricant liow therethrough which means that the injector or thereservoir 24 be closely observed. It can also be seen that the injector,by means of port 136 and O-ring 134, provide a means for pressureequalizing the lubricant with the air line. It can also be seen aninjector has been described which is automatic in operation and whichdoes not have to be constantly readjusted to control the amount oflubricant being supplied thereby. The lubricator 18 may be positionedvertically, horizontally or any other attitude with respect to themachine as it will function in any of such attitudes. lf desired, thecase 44 can be provided with a transparent window provided therein topermit the observation of the O-ring 134 so that the phenomenon of theair replacing the lubricant in the reservoir may be observed therebypermitting the observation of the amount of air bubbles being formedwhich has a direct relationship with the oil consumption. Suchobservation permits the phenomenon to be monitored and adjusted ifdesired.

While the operation of the lubricator has been described as beingdesigned to supply lubricant to air passing through the injector 18, itcan be appreciated that the device also can be used as a meteringdevice. For example, a controlled amount of iluid from reservoir 24could be supplied to a uid passing through the device.

It can be seen that applicants lubricant injector is superior to theconventional lubricator mechanisms since those mechanisms cannot operatewithout either a float valve, one-way check valve and/or sealing deviceto operate when the air pressure is off to prevent the lubricant frombeing dumped into the air line.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of myremote ll air line lubricator `without departing from the real spiritand purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by myclaims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalentswhich may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination,

a source of fluid under pressure,

a lubricant injector having fluid inlet and outlet ends, said inlet endbeing iiuidly connected to said fluid source by a tirst conduit means,

a machine remote from said iiuid source and being uidly connected to theoutlet end of said injector by a second conduit means,

a lubricant reservoir spaced remotely from said injector and saidmachine and being iluidly connected to said injector,

said injector adapted to inject a predetermined quantity of lubricantfrom said reservoir into the uid passing through said injector,

said injector including means for preventing the draining of thelubricant in said reservoir through said injector and into said secondconduit means when pressure dilierentials exist in said rst and secondconduit means or when said second conduit means is disconnected fromsaid machine,

said injector including a cylindrical housing having an air inlet portin its rear end and an air outlet port in its forward end, said housingincluding a uid chamber, a spoke support in said housing, a tubularconduit on said support extending in the longitudinal center of saidhousing, means within said housing for equalizing the air pressure ofsaid chamber with the air pressure around said tubular conduit, an oilpassageway in said spoke support communicating with the inside of saidtubular conduit and said oil reservoir, a shaft slidable in said tubularconduit, a head on said shaft, an arcuate ring mounted in said housingadjacent said inlet port and having at least a portion of its innerperimeter complementary in shape to a portion of the outer surface ofsaid head, and means for yieldingly holding said head and shaft in adirection towards said arcuate ring, said reservoir being in operativecommunication with said fluid chamber.

2. In combination,

a source of iiuid under pressure,

a lubricant injector having fluid inlet and outlet ends, said inlet endbeing fluidly connected to said iiuid source by a iirst conduit means,

a machine remote from said fluid source and being uidly connected to theoutlet end of said injector by a second conduit means,

a lubricant reservoir spaced remotely from said injector and saidmachine and being uidly connected to said injector,

said injector adapted to inject a predetermined quantity of lubricantfrom said reservoir into fluid passing through said injector,

said injector including means for preventing the draining of thelubricant in said reservoir through said injector and into said secondconduit means when pressure differentials exist in said rst and secondconduit means or when said second conduit means is disconnected fromsaid machine,

said injector including a housing having an air inlet port in its rearend and an air outlet port in itsforward end, a cylindrical support insaid housing having an outside diameter less than that of the insidediameter of said housing for producing a fluid chamber, an air pressureequalizing valve means between the inside of said support and saidchamber, said support having its two ends open and communicating withthe two ports, respectively, of said housing, an open support member inthe forward end portion of said support, a tubular conduit on saidsupport member extending in the longitudinal center of said support, alubricant passageway in said support niember and support communicatingwith the inside of said tubular conduit and said chamber, a shaftslidable in the rear end portion of said tubular conduit, a head on therear end of said shaft, means yieldingly holding said head and shaft ina rearward direction,

a valve means interconnecting said shaft and said tubular conduitcapable of closing the rear end portion of said tubular conduit lwhensaid head and shaft are in a rear position of their sliding movement,said reservoir being operatively connected to said chamber.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said valve means is adjustable.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said air pressure equalizing valvemeans is comprised of a pair of spaced apart shoulders extending aroundsaid support, said support having an opening extending therethroughbetween said shoulders, and an O-ring mounted between said shoulders.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,274 6/1941 Holmboe et al.184-55 2,367,721 v1/1945 Gothberg et al. 184-55 3,031,033 4/1962 Burrows184-15 3,057,433 10/1962 Rusche 184--55 XR 3,115,949 12/1963 Malec184-55 3,188,010 6/1965 James 184-56 XR 3,421,600 1/1969 Gleason et al.184-81 FOREIGN PATENTS 461,195 11/ 1949 Canada.

MANUEL A. ANTONAKAIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 184-65

